Ordering apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An ordering apparatus stores an order quantity, moreover, generates the order data for each ordered commodity by associating a plurality of the commodity identifiers which is accepted the input with the order quantities which is stored, during the period from the moment that the input of the commodity identifier is accepted to the moment that is determined that the input acceptation is terminated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-138574, filed Jun. 22, 2011, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to an ordering apparatus supportinga commodity ordering service.

BACKGROUND

A portable ordering terminal is used in a supermarket or conveniencestore as an ordering apparatus to support a commodity ordering service.The ordering terminal comprises: a first input device configured toinput a commodity identifier (for example, a barcode) for specifying anordered commodity; and a second input device configured to input anorder quantity; and a communication unit configured to send commodityorder data. Moreover, the commodity identifier input by the first inputdevice is associated with the order quantity by the first second deviceto generate commodity order data, which is then sent to an externalserver through the communication unit.

In the use of such an ordering apparatus, as a commodity identifier andan order quantity should be input for each ordered commodity, commodityidentifiers and order quantities are alternatively and repeatedly inputwhen a variety of kinds of commodities are ordered, which is cumbersometo the operator. Moreover, an error order quantity input occursoccasionally in inputting an order quantity for each kind of commodity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the whole structure of a shop system usingthe ordering terminal described in an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the commoditydata stored in the commodity database described in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main devices of the orderingterminal described in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a primary storing area formed in theRAM of the POS terminal described in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the main information processing executedby the CPU of the POS terminal described in accordance with an orderingprogram in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the specific processing sequence of thecommodity order data generation processing shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, an ordering apparatus comprises an orderquantity storing section, an ordered commodity accepting section, atermination determination section and an order data generation section.The order quantity storing section configured to store an orderquantity. The ordered commodity accepting section configured to acceptthe input of a commodity identifier specifying an ordered commodity. Thetermination determination section configured to determine thetermination of the input acceptation of the commodity identifier. Theorder data generation section configured to generate the order data foreach ordered commodity by associating a plurality of the commodityidentifiers which is accepted the input by the ordered commodityaccepting section with the order quantities stored in the order quantitystoring section, during the period from the moment that the input of thecommodity identifier is accepted to the moment that the terminationdetermination section determines that the input acceptation isterminated.

An embodiment of the ordering apparatus supporting a commodity orderingservice is described below with reference to accompanying drawings.Moreover, in this embodiment, an ordering program is installed on aninformation terminal serving as a portable computer device to enable theinformation terminal to function as an ordering apparatus, therebyenabling the information terminal to function as an ordering terminal10.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the whole structure of a shop system usingthe ordering terminal 10 described in this embodiment. In addition tothe ordering terminal 10, the system further comprises a storage server2, a plurality of POS (Point of Sales) terminals 3, a router 4 and awireless base station 5. Moreover, the storage server 2, the POSterminals 3, the router 4 and the wireless base station 5 are connectedwith each other through an LAN (Local Area Network) 6.

The storage server 2 manages a commodity database 7 for storingcommodity data. The POS terminals 3 register the sales data ofcustomer-purchased commodities based on the data managed by thecommodity database 7. The commodity sales data registered in each POSterminal 3 is sent to the storage server 2 via the LAN 6. The storageserver 2 gathers the commodity sales data collected from each POSterminal 3 and exports the sales data of the whole shop.

The router 4 connects the LAN 6 with an external network (not shown)such as the Internet. The wireless base station 5 is wirelesslyconnected with the ordering terminal 10 serving as a mobile station. Theexternal network connected through the router 4 is at least connectedwith a local server responsible for accepting the commodity ordergenerated in each shop.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the commoditydata stored in the commodity database 7. As shown in FIG. 2, commoditydata at least includes a commodity code, a commodity name, attributes, aunit price, an ordering address information, an original price, an orderunit and a maximum order quantity. The commodity code serves as acommodity identifier for specifying a commodity.

The minimum order unit refers to the minimum allowable order quantity inan order. For example, if the minimum unit of ordering is a dozen, forthe commodity is that the maximum number of the allowable order is 10dozens, the maximum order quantity is 10. In the same way, if theminimum unit of ordering is a case containing 10 pieces, for thecommodity is that the maximum number of the allowable order is 20 cases,the maximum order quantity is 20. In this case, the unit of ordering andthe maximum order quantity are a condition for determining whether ornot the order quantity is reasonable.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main devices of the orderingterminal 10. The ordering terminal 10 comprises a CPU 11 (CentralProcessing Unit) which constitutes the main body of a computer, an ROM12 (Read Only Memory) and an RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 whichconstitute a primary memory section, a keyboard 14 serving as a firstinput device, a scanner 15 serving as a second input device, a wirelessunit 16 serving as a communication section and a display 17 serving as adisplay device.

In addition to a numeric keypad for inputting an order quantity, thekeyboard 14 further comprises an announcement key for the announcementof a continuous order mode, a release key for releasing the continuousorder mode and a confirm key for a confirming an error.

In a normal order mode, the input of a commodity identifier forspecifying an ordered commodity and an order quantity is accepted, andevery time a commodity identifier and an order quantity are input, theinput commodity identifier and order quantity are associated with eachother to generate commodity order data to realize the order for acommodity. On the contrary, in the continuous order mode, the input oforder quantities is accepted before the input of the commodityidentifiers of the ordered commodities, and every time a commodityidentifier is input, the input commodity identifier is associated withpre-input order quantity to generate commodity order data to realize theorder for a commodity. Therefore, the normal order mode is effectivewhen each commodity is ordered in different quantity, while thecontinuous order mode is effective when different commodities areordered together in the same quantity.

The scanner 15 reads a commodity code from the information media (e.g.barcode, RFID label) added on a commodity. The wireless unit 16 isresponsible for the wireless communication with the wireless basestation 5. The display 17 displays the commodity name and the orderquantity of the commodity specified by the commodity code read by thescanner 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the RAM 13 of the ordering terminal 10, there isformed a buffer area 21 (hereinafter referred to as ordering buffer) inwhich commodity order data is temporarily stored which at least containsa commodity code, a commodity code, ordering address information, anoriginal price and an order quantity, a flag area 22 where a continuousorder flag F 22 exists, a storage area 23 (order quantity storingsection: hereinafter referred to as order quantity storage) for storingan input order quantity N, and a storage area 24 (hereinafter referredto as ordered commodity storage) for storing commodity data which atleast contains a commodity code, a commodity name, ordering addressinformation, an original price, an order unit A and the maximum orderquantity B.

Then, the CPU 11 carries out the information processing the sequence ofwhich is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 according to an ordering programstored in the ROM 12.

That is, after the ordering program is started, the CPU 11 firstdetermines whether or not there is an announcement on the continuousorder mode (ST1), the CPU 11 considering there is an announcement on thecontinuous order mode if the announcement key on the keyboard 14 ispressed down. The CPU 11 controls each other device in the way used inthe normal order mode if the announcement key is not pressed down

If there is an announcement on a continuous order mode (ST1: Yes), theCPU 11 sets the continuous order flag in the flag area 22 to be 1 (ST2).Then, the CPU 11 announces the termination of the continuous order mode(ST3) or waits for the input of a number N through the numeric keypad ofthe keyboard 14 (ST4: order quantity accepting section).

If there is no announcement on the termination that the continuous ordermode is terminated (ST3: No) and a number N is input (ST4: Yes), the CPU11 writes the number N into the order quantity storage 23 as an inputorder quantity (ST5: order quantity update section). Moreover, the CPU11 displays the input order quantity N on the display 17 (ST6).

Next, the CPU 11 announces the termination of the continuous order mode(ST7: termination determination section) or waits for the input of acommodity code serving as a commodity identifier (ST8: ordered commodityaccepting section). If a commodity code is input through the scanner 15(ST8: Yes), then the CPU 11 carries out the commodity order datageneration processing shown in FIG. 6 (ST9).

First, the CPU 11 edits a commodity data query instruction containingthe input commodity code and wirelessly sends the commodity data queryinstruction to the storage server 2. After receiving the instruction,the storage server 2 retrieves a commodity database 7 using thecommodity code contained in the instruction, exports matched commoditydata and sends the exported commodity data to the ordering terminal 10of the instruction sending source, thus, the CPU 11 extracts a commoditycode, a commodity name, ordering address information, an original price,an order unit A and a maximum order quantity B from the receivedcommodity data and stores the extracted data in the ordered commoditystorage 24 (ST21). Then, the CPU 11 displays at least the commodity nameon the display 17.

Next, the CPU 11 compares the input order quantity N stored in the orderquantity storage 23 with the maximum order quantity B stored in theordered commodity storage 24 (ST22: condition determination section).Here, if the input order quantity N is greater than the maximum orderquantity B, then the condition for the maximum order quantity allowed inan order is not satisfied, otherwise, the condition is satisfied.

In the case where the input order quantity N is not greater than themaximum order quantity B (ST22: No), the CPU 11 divides the input orderquantity N by the order unit A and determines whether or not theremainder of the resulting quotient is 0 (ST23: condition determinationsection). Here, the condition for the minimum order quantity allowed inan order is not satisfied if a remainder is generated as the input orderquantity N is not integer times of the order unit A, or satisfied if theremainder is 0, that is, the input order quantity N is integer times ofthe order unit A.

When the remainder of the quotient resulting from the division of theinput order quantity N by the order quantity A is 0 (ST23: Yes), the CPU11 associates the commodity code, commodity name, ordering addressinformation and original price stored in the ordered commodity storage24 with the order quantity N stored in the order quantity storage 23(ST24: order data generation section) to generate commodity order data,and then stored the generated commodity order data in the order buffer21 (ST25).

Sequentially, the CPU 11 removes the commodity data stored in theordered commodity storage 24 (ST25) and returns to execute Act ST7 orST8 to be in a standby state to wait for an input. At this time, the heCPU 11 removes the displayed commodity name.

On the contrary, if the order condition is not satisfied, that is, theinput order quantity N is greater than the maximum order quantity B (ST22: Yes), or the remainder of the quotient resulting from the divisionof the input order quantity N by the order unit A is not 0 (ST23: No),the CPU 11 displays an alarm ‘error order quantity’ on the display 17 towarn the operator (ST27).

Next, the CPU 11 waits for the input of the confirm key (ST28) andclears the alarm when the confirm key is input (ST29). Besides, the CPU11 also removes the commodity data stored in the ordered commoditystorage 24 (ST26) and returns to execute Act ST7 or ST8 to be in astandby state to wait for an input. At this time CPU 11 removes thedisplayed commodity name.

The CPU 11 carries out the commodity order data generation processingshown in Act ST9 every time a commodity code is input (ST8: Yes). Thatis, the CPU 11 reads the data of the commodity specified by thecommodity code from the commodity database 7 and determines whether ornot the order quantity N stored in the order quantity storage 23satisfies a condition for the order of the commodity. Moreover, the CPU11 associates the commodity code of the commodity with the orderquantity N to generate commodity order data when the order quantity Nsatisfies the condition for the order of the commodity, and then storesthe generated commodity order data in the order buffer 21.

Then, the CPU 11 considers there is an announcement on the terminationof the continuous order mode if the release key on the keyboard 14 ispressed down. If there is an announcement on the termination of thecontinuous order mode (ST7: Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether or notcommodity order data is stored in the order buffer 21 (ST10). Moreover,if commodity order data is stored (ST10: Yes), the CPU 11 gathers andfiles the commodity order data stored in the order buffer 21 and sendsthe commodity order data file to the local server via the wirelesssection 16 (ST11: order data output section). In this way, thewirelessly sent commodity order data file is sent to the local servervia the wireless base station 5 and the router 4 to realize an order forthe commodity.

Act ST11 is not executed if no commodity order data is stored in theorder buffer 21 (ST10: No).

Then, the CPU 11 empties the order quantity storage 23 and removes thedisplay of an order quantity (ST12). Moreover, the CPU 11 resets thecontinuous order flag F in the flag area 22 to be 0 (ST13) to releasethe continuous order mode.

Moreover, if the release key is pressed down when the CPU 11 is waitingfor the input of an order quantity, then the CPU 11 executes Act ST 13.That is, the CPU 11 resets the continuous order flag F in the flag area22 to be 0 (ST13) to release the continuous order mode.

In a shop installed with the shop system described in this embodiment, ashop assistant responsible for commodity ordering realizes a commodityordering operation in a mall or warehouse with the ordering terminal 10in the hand. In this case, if different commodities are repeatedlyordered in the same order quantity, the shop assistant first pressesdown the announcement key on the keyboard 14 to select a continuousorder mode, and then inputs the shared order quantity of the commoditiesthrough the numeric keypad. Next, the shop assistant inputs, one by one,the commodity codes of the commodities ordered in the order quantity,and presses down the release key to release the continuous order modeafter the commodity codes are successively input. Sequentially, eachsuccessively input commodity code is associated with the pre-input orderquantity to generate commodity order data, which is then sent to thelocal server through a wireless communication to realize an order forthe commodities.

As a result, instead of alternatively inputting a commodity identifierand an order quantity for each ordered commodity as described in theprior art, the input of an order quantity for each commodity is saved inthis embodiment due to the use of the continuous order mode, thus, acommodity ordering service is simplified and the processing time isshortened. Besides, an error order quantity input is prevented.

Other embodiments are described below.

For example, in the embodiment above, in the continuous order mode, anorder quantity N is input before the commodity codes of the commoditiesordered in the order quantity, however, the following case is alsoapplicable in which the commodity codes of the commodities ordered inthe same order quantity are input before the order quantity and then thecontinuous order mode is released to generate commodity order data.

Moreover, it is necessary to input an order quantity in the embodimentabove, however, the order quantity may be set by default to be, forexample, 1 to save the input of the order quantity.

Further, in the embodiment above, a given key (release key) is set torelease the continuous order mode, however, it may be set that any keyon the operating keyboard 14 can be operated to release the continuousorder mode to execute Acts ST10-ST13, which saves the setting of arelease key.

Furthermore, in the case where no release key is needed, Acts ST10-ST12may be executed when a number N is input from the numeric keypad, andthen Act ST5 is executed. In such a manner, the input of theannouncement key can be saved from the second continuous orderingprocessing for an order of commodities in a second order quantity, whichis carried out after the first continuous ordering processing for anorder of commodities in a first order quantity.

In addition, in the embodiment above, a control program for achievingthe functions of the present invention is pre-installed in the ROM 12configured in the apparatus. However, the present invention is notlimited to this, the same program can also be downloaded to theapparatus from a network, or the same program recorded in a recordingmedium can also be installed in the apparatus. The form of the recordingmedium is not limited as long as the recording medium can store programslike a CD-ROM and a memory card and is readable to the apparatus.Further, the function achieved by an installed or downloaded program canalso be achieved by the cooperation with an OS (Operating System)installed in the apparatus.

Although the present invention has been discussed with respect toseveral embodiments, these embodiments are merely illustrative but notrestrictive of the present invention. The novel embodiments describedherein may also be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore,various omissions, substitutions and modifications can be devisedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Theaccompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover suchforms and modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of theinvention.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ordering apparatus, comprising: a processorthat executes computer executable instructions comprising: an orderquantity storing section configured to store an order quantity; anordered commodity accepting section configured to accept input of acommodity identifier specifying an ordered commodity; a terminationdetermination section configured to determine termination of inputacceptation of the commodity identifier; and an order data generationsection configured to generate order data for each ordered commodity byassociating a plurality of commodity identifiers which is accepted asinput by the ordered commodity accepting section with order quantitiesstored in an order quantity storing section, during a period from amoment that the input of the commodity identifier is accepted to amoment that the termination determination section determines that inputacceptation is terminated, wherein in response to an announcement keyfor a continuous order mode being input, the ordering apparatus acceptsinput of the order quantity; in response to a number value being inputthrough a numerical keypad, the ordering apparatus writes the numbervalue into the order quantity storing section as the order quantity; inresponse to the order quantity being written into the order quantitystoring section, the ordering apparatus accepts input of a commodityidentifier, and for each commodity identifier input, the orderingapparatus generates order data based on each commodity identifier andthe order quantity in the order quantity storage section; in response toa release key for releasing the continuous order mode being input or anumber value being input through the numerical keypad, the orderingapparatus terminates acceptation of the input of the commodityidentifier and outputs order data for each ordered commodity to anexternal device; in response to acceptation of the input of thecommodity identifier being terminated by input of a release key, theordering apparatus releases the continuous order mode after the orderdata is output; and in response to acceptation of input of the commodityidentifier being terminated by input of a number value being inputthrough the numerical keypad, the ordering apparatus writes the numbervalue into the order quantity storage section and resumes acceptation ofinput of the commodity identifier after the order data is output.
 2. Theordering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an orderquantity accepting section configured to accept additional input of theorder quantity of the commodity; and an order quantity update sectionconfigured to update the order quantity stored in the order quantitystoring section to the order quantity according to the additional inputof which is accepted by the order quantity accepting section; whereinthe acceptance of the additional input of the commodity identifier isstarted corresponding to the update of the commodity by the orderquantity update section.
 3. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: a condition determination section configured todetermine whether or not the order quantity stored in the order quantitystoring section satisfies a condition of the order quantity that is setfor each ordered commodity specified by the commodity identifiersaccepted as input by the ordered commodity accepting section; whereinthe order data of each ordered commodity is generated by the order datageneration section when the condition is satisfied.
 4. The orderingapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a conditiondetermination section configured to determine whether or not the orderquantity stored in the order quantity storing section satisfies thecondition of the order quantity that is set for each ordered commodityspecified by the commodity identifiers accepted as input by the orderedcommodity accepting section; wherein the order data of each orderedcommodity is generated by the order data generation section when thecondition is satisfied.
 5. The ordering apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the condition is at least one of a maximum allowable orderquantity and a minimum allowable order quantity at one time.
 6. Theordering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the condition is atleast one of a maximum allowable order quantity and a minimum allowableorder quantity at one time.
 7. The ordering apparatus according to anyone of claim 1, further comprising: an order data output sectionconfigured to output the order data generated by the order datageneration section for each ordered commodity in a lump into an externaldevice.
 8. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a display configured to display the order quantity, whereinthe order quantity displayed on the display is changed to a number valueinput through a numerical keypad before acceptation of the input of thecommodity identifier resumes.
 9. An ordering method, comprising:storing, by a system comprising a processor, an order quantity;accepting, by the system, input of a commodity identifier specifying anordered commodity; determining, by the system, termination of the inputacceptation of the commodity identifier; and generating, by the system,order data for each ordered commodity by associating a plurality ofcommodity identifiers accepted by a ordered commodity accepting sectionwith the order quantities which is stored, during a period from a momentthat the input of the commodity identifier is accepted to a moment thatthe input acceptation is terminated, wherein in response to aannouncement key for a continuous order mode being input, acceptinginput of the order quantity; in response to a number value being inputthrough a numerical keypad, writing the number value into an orderquantity storing section as the order quantity; in response to the orderquantity being written into the order quantity storing section,accepting input of a commodity identifier, and for each commodityidentifier input, generating order data based on each commodityidentifier and the order quantity in the order quantity storage section;in response to a release key for releasing the continuous order modebeing input or a number value being input through the numerical keypad,terminating acceptation of the input of the commodity identifier andoutputting order data for each ordered commodity to an external device;in response to acceptation of the input of the commodity identifierbeing terminated by input of a release key, releasing the continuousorder mode after the order data is output; and in response toacceptation of input of the commodity identifier being terminated byinput of a number value being input through the numerical keypad,writing the number value into the order quantity storage section andresuming acceptation of input of the commodity identifier after theorder data is output.